Susan and David Jessup plan to rebuild their ranch

Susan Jessup's father was approached after the 1976 flood and told, "Maurice, if I were you, I would just walk away from this."

The flood had washed out a bridge on the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch and damaged land and buildings.

The family has owned the ranch since 1946. Maurice looked at the man and said, "We'll be in business in a couple weeks."

Now, it has been just over two weeks since flooding devastated much of the Front Range and wreaked havoc on the ranch west of Loveland.

"And by golly, we're going to do something," said Susan Jessup Thursday as she surveyed the washed-out road and rocky canyon that separate the horse barns from the rest of the 3,200-acre property.

Standing on the bridge over the Big Thompson river where the road was washed away by flood waters, David Jessup, owner of Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, talks with a man surveying damage Thursday in west Loveland. The guest ranch sustained heavy damage in the Front Range flood.
(
Lilia Munoz
)

A crew with Coulson Excavating used huge excavators Thursday to dig rubble out from under the cement bridge over the river.

Although the ranch does not have electricity, sewer or water capabilities yet, the family will rebuild and reopen the ranch. Sylvan Dale will open to limited trail rides and horse riding lessons starting this weekend.

None of the 80 horses were hurt in the flooding and 16 will be available for riding at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Lessons are available by appointment.

Call 488-0568 for private or group lessons. Directions will be given on the phone for access to the ranch.

Susan Jessup, her husband Dave Armstrong, her brother David Jessup and their family and staff watched as the Big Thompson River ate away at their land on Thursday, Sept. 12.

"We watched pieces of it fall into the river, chunks of land," Susan Jessup said Thursday, Sept. 26. "It was apocalyptic. The whole thing out there was river, eating away at this bank little by little, churning and cutting away. I still can't believe it."

The river, which usually flows through their property 150 feet away from the buildings and road on the north bank, overflowed and cut 35 acres of land out of the main ranch grounds of 70 acres, David Jessup said.

If You Go

Trail rides: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and ongoing in coming weeks. $34 for one hour, $52 for two hours and $64 for three hours.

Private lessons: By appointment. Cost is $45 an hour.

Group lessons: By appointment, $30 each, minimum of three students.

Contact: Call 488-0568 to schedule a time and directions will be given to the ranch

Other instructions: The Larimer County Sheriff's Office wants to support the reopening of businesses and will allow access to the ranch for rides and lessons, according to John Schulz, public information officer.

Drivers might have to go around a "restricted access" sign at the corner of County Road 29 and U.S. 34. Schulz cautioned that the Colorado Department of Transportation is working on U.S. 34 in various areas, so sections of the highway might be closed periodically.

"That might not seem like much, but that's where we do our business," Susan Jessup said.

On the north side, the river demolished a cabin and half of the Jessup Lodge, which held the kitchen, dining area, and the Big Thompson Suite and meeting areas on the second floor.

"Underneath is the original homestead on the river bank built by William Alexander in 1864," David Jessup said.

The mountain to the west is named after Alexander, and the back wall of the lodge contains part of Alexander's original homestead.

The dining room in the lodge was built in the 1920s, Susan Jessup said. In the 1976 flood, the water got pretty high but didn't touch the chandeliers or wall sconces in the dining room. This time, it took that whole section.

"That is the biggest loss of a building that had memories and history," she said.

The river undercut one of their cabins. The cabin is the home in which Susan and David Jessup grew up.

The river created a new channel that eliminated five ponds and picnic area, which were idyllic fishing and eating areas. It also flooded and caused damage to guest houses, including one named after Susan Jessup's mother, Mayme Jessup.

And it damaged an outdoor wedding amphitheater, "M & M Golden Amphitheater," that was dedicated to Susan and David's parents, Mayme and Maurice Jessup, on their 50th wedding anniversary.

On the south side, the river eliminated another cabin that was the home of Susan's grandparents before they died, which was later used for staff or guest housing.

Susan Jessup, owner of Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, pets one of her horses on Thursday at the ranch property in Loveland. Jessup is planning on opening some horse trail rides this weekend despite the devastation caused by the flood and they already have horses ready for signups.
(
Lilia Munoz
)

It cut away at the "River Pasture," creating a 20-foot cliff to a wide rocky river bottom.

The apple trees on the property are a historical part of the land, Susan Jessup said. Frend Neville owned the ranch in the 1920s and grew apple trees. When the last of those trees died off about 25 years ago, Susan Jessup had a horticulturist cut clippings from the tree and replant apple trees on the property.

The trees each have a plaque dedicated to a part of their history, including one for an employee, Joyce Miller, who died of pancreatic cancer. That tree was planted on the south side of the river across from the dining room. Miller's grandson was married there in August. The tree was taken in the flood.

The river now flows right next to the remaining buildings on the north side and has a second channel flowing through the former ponds before it joins up with the original section of the river.

"We're kind of at a standstill until we get the word from the county on what we can do, before we can really get into any of our buildings for repair," Susan Jessup said. The family would like to see the river diverted back to its original course so they have room to rebuild.

The weekend of the flood, a group was using the meeting room above the Jessup Lodge. Susan Jessup told them she would have breakfast for them that morning.

She can't remember if that happened Thursday or Friday. By the time she got ready to prepare breakfast, water was already coming in the lodge. She called the Embassy Suites and found rooms for the group.

Some of the Jessups' memories were saved, like an original ice box and commercial coal-burning stove that Susan Jessup's mother used. And her mother's trinkets and memories on display in the Heritage all-purpose building.

"Are you ready to see something pretty?" Susan Jessup asked after explaining the extensive damage.

Eight horses on the north side of the river graze in pastures that are never this emerald green in September, she said. The horses will be ready for trail rides this weekend.

The trails on Alexander and Green Ridge are good, Susan Jessup said. And the trails on the ridge to the east of the buildings will give a dramatic view of the flood damage.